These may include chart planning, acting as Officer of the Watch, using the ship's radar and carrying out seamanship evolutions from anchoring to securing alongside. Instruction is provided in engineering, firefighting, damage control and ship handling.

Weekend training at sea is usually limited to visiting UK coastal ports but the Easter and Summer deployments have included visits to France, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Ireland. Additional sea training is also provided to the Combined Cadet Forces and Sea Cadet Corps members.

Puncher also provides a navigational training platform for young officers in the Fleet and Royal Marines preparing to navigate landing craft.

Outside of the training role, the ship takes part in high profile PR events around the country as she is able to get into smaller ports not visited by larger platforms.